Can I create a VM that is a replica of a working physical PC?

Hi,

I have a physical Windows 7 PC that I use to run one particular application.  I'd like to retire this PC, but I need this application and I have lost the installation media, so I am unable to install it on a different PC.

I have used Microsoft Hyper-V to create virtual machines in the past.  In my experience, I have always created a Virtual Machine on which I then did a new install of whatever OS I wanted (Windows 7 for example).  Then I installed all the applications I wanted to use on it.  This won't work for me in this case because I do not have the installation media for the application I need.

With this in mind, I am wondering if there is VM software (Hyper-V or other) that would allow me to create a VM where rather than starting with a fresh OS install, I could create it using an image / exact replica of a working physical PC.

If I can do this, I would retire the physical Windows 7 PC and run my application in the VM.  This application is not require a license for its use.

Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
Paul

If you have any experience with linux you should be able to take your Disk, create an image of it with dd and then convert it into a format that can be used with a VM. I'd suggest either Hyper-V or KVM (e.g. Proxmox) to manage the VMs.

You should test the image before getting rid of your disk as you may be missing drivers necessary to run in a VM.

This is a pretty advanced topic, and would suggest doing it with a don't mind losing (in case you mess up using dd) before trying it on your production disk.

I've never done it but Macrium Reflect, not the free version, will let you do it.

https://knowledgebase.macrium.com/display/KNOW/Converting+a+Physical+machine+to+Virtual+Machine

Hi Kraust, JohnC_21, and midimusicaman -

Thank you very much for your responses.  I have very limited experience with linux, and that was a long time ago.  I have used Macrium Reflect for drive imaging purposes, but I was not aware of the feature that supports converting a physical machine to a virtual machine.  I will give that a try!

I appreciate your help!

Best regards,
Paul

You are most welcome, PaulKraemer!